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Psalm 72

Prayer for Guidance and Support for the King

Of Solomon.

Give the king your justice, O God,
    and your righteousness to a king’s son.(A)
May he judge your people with righteousness
    and your poor with justice.(B)
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
    and the hills, in righteousness.(C)
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
    give deliverance to the needy,
    and crush the oppressor.(D)

May he live[a] while the sun endures
    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.(E)
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
    like showers that water the earth.(F)
In his days may righteousness flourish
    and peace abound, until the moon is no more.(G)

May he have dominion from sea to sea
    and from the River to the ends of the earth.(H)
May his foes[b] bow down before him,
    and his enemies lick the dust.(I)
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles
    render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
    bring gifts.(J)
11 May all kings fall down before him,
    all nations give him service.

12 For he delivers the needy when they call,
    the poor and those who have no helper.(K)
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy
    and saves the lives of the needy.
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
    and precious is their blood in his sight.(L)

15 Long may he live!
    May gold of Sheba be given to him.
May prayer be made for him continually
    and blessings invoked for him all day long.(M)
16 May there be abundance of grain in the land;
    may it wave on the tops of the mountains;
    may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
    like the grass of the field.(N)
17 May his name endure forever,
    his fame continue as long as the sun.
May all nations be blessed in him;[c]
    may they pronounce him happy.(O)

18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    who alone does wondrous things.(P)
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;
    may his glory fill the whole earth.
                Amen and Amen.(Q)

20 The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended.

Footnotes

  1. 72.5 Gk: Heb may they fear you
  2. 72.9 Cn: Heb those who live in the wilderness
  3. 72.17 Or bless themselves by him

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a female slave who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling.(A) 17 While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you[a] the way of salvation.”(B) 18 She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

19 But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.(C) 20 When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, “These men, these Jews, are disturbing our city(D) 21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us, being Romans, to adopt or observe.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods.(E) 23 After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely.(F) 24 Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 16.17 Other ancient authorities read to us

47 When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came toward them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by.(A) 49 But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”(B) 51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,(C) 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.(D)

Healing the Sick in Gennesaret

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat.(E) 54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.(F)

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73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
    give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.(A)
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
    because I have hoped in your word.(B)
75 I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right
    and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.(C)
76 Let your steadfast love become my comfort
    according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live,
    for your law is my delight.
78 Let the arrogant be put to shame,
    for they have subverted me with guile;
    as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.(D)
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
    so that they may know your decrees.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
    so that I may not be put to shame.

81 My soul languishes for your salvation;
    I hope in your word.(E)
82 My eyes fail with watching for your promise;
    I ask, “When will you comfort me?”(F)
83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
    yet I have not forgotten your statutes.(G)
84 How long must your servant endure?
    When will you judge those who persecute me?(H)
85 The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me;
    they flout your law.(I)
86 All your commandments are enduring;
    I am persecuted without cause; help me!(J)
87 They have almost made an end of me on earth,
    but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 In your steadfast love spare my life,
    so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.

89 The Lord exists forever;
    your word is firmly fixed in heaven.(K)
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
    you have established the earth, and it stands fast.(L)
91 By your appointment they stand today,
    for all things are your servants.(M)
92 If your law had not been my delight,
    I would have perished in my misery.
93 I will never forget your precepts,
    for by them you have given me life.(N)
94 I am yours; save me,
    for I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
    but I consider your decrees.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
    but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

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